Have you ever wondered whether the land your ancestors left behind is still recorded in the Bihar government’s registers under your family’s name? That record — the one carrying your grandfather’s or great-grandfather’s name — can now be viewed from your own mobile phone or computer. For lakhs of landowners across Bihar, this is genuinely good news: there is no longer any need to make repeated trips to the circle office just to get a copy of your khatiyan.
But wait! The internet is also full of half-baked and misleading information about khatiyan. Some say khatiyan and jamabandi are the same thing; others say they come from different websites. What is the real truth? Where does the Bihar Khatiyan actually come from, which website is the correct one, what are khata and khesra numbers, and is the downloaded copy really legally valid or not? You will find the answers to all these questions in detail in this article.
In this guide, we explain what a Bihar Khatiyan is, what types of khatiyan exist, how khatiyan differs from jamabandi, which official portal to use for which record, and the complete step-by-step process to check and download your khatiyan from home. You will also learn what to do if your record is not found online, what legal validity a digitally signed copy carries, and answers to the most common questions on the subject.
Bihar Khatiyan: At a Glance (Quick Facts)
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Subject | Bihar Khatiyan — the record of rights for land |
| Official portal | bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in |
| Department | Department of Revenue and Land Reforms, Government of Bihar |
| Districts online | All 38 districts |
| Search options | By khata number, khesra number, or name search |
| Copy type | Digitally signed copy — legally valid |
| Helpline | Department of Revenue and Land Reforms helpline 1800-345-6215 (please verify on the portal) |
What Is a Bihar Khatiyan?
A khatiyan literally means a record of rights. It is the government document prepared at the time of a land survey, recording plot-wise ownership details. Whenever a survey was conducted in Bihar — whether the old Cadastral Survey or the later Revisional Survey — the details of every khata and khesra of each village (mauja) were written into a register. That register is the khatiyan.
Put simply: if your land had a “birth certificate,” the khatiyan would be it. It records who owned the land at the time of the survey, the khata number, the khesra number, the area (rakba) of the land, and the rent (lagan) fixed on it. That is why the khatiyan is the first document demanded in land sales, partitions, inheritance matters, and disputes.
The khatiyan matters even more in Bihar because most land disputes in the state trace their roots back to old records. With the correct khatiyan in hand, your claim becomes strong; missing or wrong records are what turn into court cases that drag on for years. Every landowner should therefore know their khatiyan details.
Types of Bihar Khatiyan: CS, RS and SR
Bihar has three main types of khatiyan, based on the surveys conducted at different times. Understanding them matters because you may need to select the correct survey while searching on the portal.
1. CS Khatiyan (Cadastral Survey Khatiyan)
This is the oldest survey. Prepared during the Cadastral Survey, the CS khatiyan forms the foundation of Bihar’s land records. For the first time, every plot of a village was scientifically measured and its owner and rent recorded. The CS khatiyan is considered the most important document for understanding the history of old lands.
2. RS Khatiyan (Revisional Survey Khatiyan)
With time, landowners changed, partitions happened, and new plots were created. The Revisional Survey was conducted to record these changes, producing the RS khatiyan. Today, the RS khatiyan is the most widely used document for proving land ownership, because it reflects the changes that came after the CS survey.
3. SR Khatiyan (Special Survey / SIR Khatiyan)
In recent years, Bihar has also conducted a Special Survey, whose khatiyan is called the SR khatiyan. Wherever this survey is complete, the records are considered new and updated. You can check on the portal or at your circle office which survey applies to your mauja.
Bihar Khatiyan vs Jamabandi: What Is the Difference?
This is the biggest source of confusion — people treat khatiyan and jamabandi as the same thing, but they are different documents. The comparison table below makes it clear:
| Point | Khatiyan | Jamabandi (Register-2) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Record of rights prepared at survey time | Current holding record, updated continuously |
| Created | Once, during the survey | Kept updated over time |
| Shows | Plot-wise ownership as per the survey | Who holds how much land today |
| Changes | Static record — does not change | Changes with mutation (dakhil-kharij) |
| Official portal | bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in | biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in |
| Needed when | Proving old ownership rights | Current owner details, rent payment |
In simple words: the khatiyan is the history of your land; the jamabandi is its present. When buying land, check both — the khatiyan tells you who the original owner was, and the jamabandi tells you whether the record today stands in the seller’s name.
Which Official Website for Which Record?
Bihar’s Department of Revenue and Land Reforms has created separate portals for separate tasks. Going to the wrong website wastes time, so knowing the right portal matters:
- bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in (Bhu-Abhilekh): for viewing and downloading khatiyan — CS/RS khatiyan records are found here.
- biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in (Bihar Bhumi): for jamabandi (Register-2), dakhil-kharij (mutation), and parimarjan (corrections).
- bhunaksha.bihar.gov.in (Bhu-Naksha): for viewing the land map.
- dlrs.bihar.gov.in: for getting the land map delivered by post.
Note: these are all official Government of Bihar websites. For khatiyan, use only bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in — never enter your details on any private or agent-run site.
How to Check and Download Bihar Khatiyan Online: Step-by-Step Guide
Now the most important part — how to get your khatiyan from home. The full process is given below, step by step. Keep your khata or khesra number noted down beforehand to make the work easier.
Step 1: Open the Official Portal
Open bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in in your mobile or computer browser. This is the Bihar government’s land-records portal where khatiyan records of all 38 districts are available online.
Step 2: Select District, Anchal and Mauja
On the portal, first select your District, then the Anchal (Circle), and then the Mauja (village). Choose the mauja very carefully — selecting the wrong village will hide your record. If you are unsure about the spelling of the mauja name, search the list attentively.
Step 3: Enter Khata or Khesra Number (or Search by Name)
You now have two options: enter the Khata Number or the Khesra Number. The khata number is the number of the holding, while the khesra number is the number of each individual plot. If you do not remember the numbers, the name search option is also available — enter the raiyat (owner) name to find the record.
Step 4: View and Download/Print the Record
Entering the correct details will display your khatiyan on the screen. Check it carefully — name, khata, khesra, and area should all be correct. Once satisfied, press the download or print button to save the digitally signed copy. This copy is legally valid.
What to Do If Your Record Is Not Found Online?
Sometimes the record is not found even after entering correct details. Do not panic — try the remedies below:
- Check the spelling: even a small mistake in the mauja or name spelling can hide the record. Try different spellings.
- Try khata vs khesra: if the khata number does not work, search by khesra number, and vice versa.
- Re-check the mauja selection: many villages have similar names — make sure the correct mauja is selected.
- Check the jamabandi instead: if a mutation (dakhil-kharij) has taken place, the old khatiyan number may have changed. In that case, search the jamabandi (Register-2) on biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in.
- Use Parimarjan Plus: if there is an error in the name or number in the record, you can apply for correction through Parimarjan Plus.
- Contact your circle office: if it is still not found online, seek help from the revenue staff or the Circle Officer of your anchal.
Legal Validity of the Digitally Signed Khatiyan Copy
The khatiyan copy downloaded from the portal is digitally signed and is legally valid. This means the online copy can be used as a document for bank loans, land sale-purchase processes, and government work.
Still, one practical piece of advice: before any major transaction (such as land registration), do confirm with the concerned office whether they accept the online copy or require a certified copy. Some offices may ask for a certified copy issued by the circle in special cases.
Bihar Khatiyan: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Where can I download the Bihar Khatiyan online?
The Bihar Khatiyan can be downloaded from the bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in portal. Select district, anchal and mauja, search by khata or khesra number, and download the digitally signed copy.
2. What is the difference between khatiyan and jamabandi?
The khatiyan is the record of rights prepared at survey time showing plot-wise ownership, while the jamabandi (Register-2) is the current holding record that keeps updating with mutation (dakhil-kharij).
3. What are khata number and khesra number?
The khata number is the number of the raiyat’s holding, while the khesra number is the number of each individual plot. You need one of these numbers — or the owner’s name — to search for a khatiyan.
4. Is the online khatiyan copy legally valid?
Yes, the copy from the portal is digitally signed and legally valid. However, before a major transaction, do check the requirement of the concerned office.
5. What should I do if my khatiyan is not found online?
First re-check the spelling, mauja selection, and khata/khesra numbers. If still not found, check the jamabandi on biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in, apply for correction via Parimarjan Plus, or contact your circle office.
6. Which department is responsible for the Bihar Khatiyan?
The Department of Revenue and Land Reforms, Government of Bihar. For assistance, the department helpline 1800-345-6215 can be contacted (verify the number on the portal).
7. Are the khatiyan records of all 38 districts online?
Yes, the land records of all 38 districts of Bihar have been digitized and are available on bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in.
Official Links
- Bhu-Abhilekh (Khatiyan): bhuabhilekh.bihar.gov.in
- Bihar Bhumi (Jamabandi / Dakhil-Kharij): biharbhumi.bihar.gov.in
- Bhu-Naksha (land map): bhunaksha.bihar.gov.in
- Department of Revenue and Land Reforms, Government of Bihar — dlrs.bihar.gov.in
Disclaimer: GramSuvidha is a private information portal, not a government website.
